Some Smooth Fox Terrier owners have been puzzled by the meaning of a portion of their breed standard that refers to, “…anything approaching a ‘pipestopper’ tail being especially objectionable.”

What’s a pipestopper?

Some have thought that it is a pipe cleaner, but it’s not. In an old AKC publication, we learned that pipestoppers were 19th

19th century pipestopper

century gadgets used to compress tobacco in a pipe. They were molded (some in the shape of a lady’s leg) and bent 90 degrees at the “knee.” When put in perspective on a Smooth Fox Terrier, the tail rises directly up from the base to the midpoint, then ends at 90 degrees to run parallel to the dog’s back. In 21st century jargon, it’s called a “gay tail.”

Image of Smooth Coated Fox Terrier by Edwin Megargee. Read more about Edwin Megargee here.